Several arrested after man shot dead in Gormanston

A man has been shot dead in Co Meath this afternoon in an attack believed to be linked to the activities of the Real IRA.

The incident occurred just after 2.30pm in Gormanston in the car park of the Huntsman Inn.

The dead man, named locally as Peter Butterly from Dunleer, Co Louth, was in his mid 30s.

Mr Butterly had recently been before the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of an illegal organisation but the case collapsed after a key warrant used during the Garda investigation was ruled unconstitutional in an unrelated case.

He was being investigated for allegedly transporting bomb making equipment in 2010 but the evidence gathered under the warrant could not be used and the case collapsed.

Gardaí have arrested a number of men in the aftermath of the shooting. They are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act at Garda stations in Dublin.

The investigation into the fatal shooting is being conducted from Laytown Garda station.